Staudinger Franke’s Submerged Portrait Series, “Barrier”

The image of Shakespeare’s Ophelia submerging herself in a river has inspired artists for centuries, from the 19th-century Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood to the contemporary photo studio Staudinger Franke. Their “Barrier” series features female models resting below the water’s surface in a way that evokes Hamlet’s tragic love interest. While Staudinger Franke typically work in advertising, this personal project shows the sensual, subtle side of their practice.